Best car insurance in Nashville, TN (2024)

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Ed ZuccarelliFreelance contributorEd Zuccarelli is a freelance writer and former police officer whose law enforcement experience made him an expert in motor vehicle law and the car insurance industry.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

Updated|3 min read

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The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Nashville is $1,370 a year, $41 higher than the Tennessee state average of $1,329. But car insurance costs vary widely, you can enter identical information with two different companies and get two very different quotes.

Ready to shop car insurance?

That's why it's best to compare quotes from multiple companies near you as you shop. Policygenius makes it easy to see what you’ll pay with top car insurance companies, so you can be sure you’re choosing the right coverage at the best price. 

Key Takeaways

  • USAA offered the cheapest car insurance in Nashville, at an average rate of $812 a year for full coverage

  • Tennessee requires minimum coverage levels of $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability

  • Each car insurance company uses different standards when setting rates, so comparing options from multiple companies will help you get the best deal

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Nashville, TN

Insurance companies use lots of different factors when determining car insurance rates. Some of these factors are totally out of your control, like your age and gender, but some you can work on, like your driving history or credit score. The cheapest company for one driver isn’t always the cheapest for another, which is why you should always take time to compare quotes before you buy a policy.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

USAA

$812

890

State Farm

$875

882

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,013

865

GEICO

$1,212

874

Travelers

$1,227

854

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Nashville, TN

In a city like Nashville, insurance rates can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. More suburban areas with fewer cars on the roads will have lower rates than denser neighborhoods with busier streets.

ZIP code

Average cost

37205

$1,321

37215

$1,325

37221

$1,333

37212

$1,341

37209

$1,346

37080

$1,348

37204

$1,353

37216

$1,357

37203

$1,363

37240

$1,363

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Nashville, TN

There’s a lot to consider when you’re shopping for car insurance — cost is a major factor, but you also want to find a company with solid claims satisfaction ratings, a range of discounts, perks like accident forgiveness, and digital tools that can make claims filing easier. 

Policygenius can help you understand the coverage you need and see what you’d pay with different top companies, so that you can feel confident you’re making the right choice.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Nashville, TN

A driver with multiple accidents, moving violations, and claims on their record will be considered a greater risk to insure and will see higher rates. The best way to avoid these rate increases is to be a safe and careful driver — but if you already have a poor driving record, it’s all the more important to compare quotes when you’re shopping for a policy. 

Violation

USAA

State Farm

Auto-Owners Insurance

GEICO

Travelers

At-fault accident

$1,241

$1,054

$1,833

$2,193

$1,784

DUI

$1,636

$971

$2,591

$2,324

$1,944

Suspended license

$1,578

$971

$2,591

$3,269

$1,944

Open container

$1,149

$971

$1,344

$2,324

$1,690

Expired registration

$1,028

$971

$1,042

$1,402

$1,690

Driving without lights

$1,028

$971

$1,042

$1,445

$1,690

Running a red light

$1,028

$971

$1,042

$1,445

$1,713

Following too closely

$1,028

$971

$1,042

$1,445

$1,690

Hit and run

$1,697

$971

$2,591

$2,688

$1,944

Not-at-fault accident

$865

$888

$1,042

$1,201

$1,322

Passing a school bus

$1,149

$971

$1,493

$1,445

$1,944

Reckless driving

$1,149

$971

$2,591

$2,688

$1,944

Speeding

$1,028

$971

$3,588

$2,688

$1,944

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Nashville, TN

The average rate for car insurance in Nashville is $1,370 per year, but drivers with a DUI or DWI will likely pay much higher rates. Drivers in Nashville can expect to pay an average of $2,477 per year if they have a DUI, which is a 81% increase over the average car insurance rate in Nashville.

But each car insurance company is different, so rates can vary significantly from one company to the next—even for drivers with a DUI. We found that State Farm, USAA, and Travelers have the lowest rates for drivers with a DUI in Nashville.

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$971

USAA

$1,636

Travelers

$1,944

GEICO

$2,324

Auto-Owners Insurance

$2,591

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Nashville, TN

Rates will also go up for drivers with a speeding ticket or moving violation on their record. Drivers in Nashville should expect to pay an average of $1,932 per year for car insurance after a speeding ticket.

Speeding tickets can make your insurance rates go up, but you can compare quotes from multiple companies to save money on your car insurance. We found that State Farm, USAA, and Travelers offer the lowest rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Nashville.

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

State Farm

$971

USAA

$1,028

Travelers

$1,944

GEICO

$2,688

Auto-Owners Insurance

$3,588

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Nashville, TN

Most car insurance companies will check your credit as part of the application process. The check doesn’t affect your credit, but your score will affect your rate. The lower your credit score, the more you’ll pay for car insurance.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

USAA

$1,518

GEICO

$1,843

Grange Insurance

$1,863

Nationwide

$1,928

Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance

$1,982

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Nashville, TN

Most drivers need more than the minimum amount of coverage required in their state, but all drivers need to at least meet the minimums required by law. The minimum coverage levels required in Tennessee are:

  • $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person

  • $50,000 in bodily liability coverage per accident

  • $25,000 in property damage liability coverage

Electronic proof of insurance: Tennessee accepts electronic proof of insurance. In the event you cannot find your paper insurance card, you can pull up proof of insurance on a phone, tablet, or other mobile device.

Tennessee is an at-fault state. Under Tennessee law, the driver who is found to be at-fault for the accident is legally and financially responsible for damage and injuries that resulted from the accident (that means their insurance company is the one that pays.

How to get cheap car insurance in Nashville, TN

Shopping for car insurance can seem complicated, but there are some simple ways to make sure you’re getting the best price.

  1. Compare quotes before you buy, so you know you’re not missing out on more affordable coverage somewhere else

  2. Understand which discounts are available so you can make sure you’re getting all the ones you qualify for, like discounts for being a safe driver, paying your premium in full or being part of certain groups or organizations 

  3. Bundle your policies. Getting your home and auto insurance from the same company can earn you savings on both policies.

  4. Reshop yearly, even if you’re happy with your current company, so you know you’re not paying more than necessary

Frequently asked questions

Does Tennessee have high car insurance rates?

Tennessee has lower car insurance rates than the national average, but drivers can still save money on car insurance by comparing rates between multiple companies.

Is Tennessee an at-fault state or a no-fault state?

Tennessee is an at-fault state, which means the driver who is at fault in an accident is responsible for any costs or expenses related to the accident. If you are at fault in an accident and don't have enough liability coverage, you will be expected to pay any additional costs out-of-pocket.

Is car Insurance mandatory in Tennessee?

Yes. Every actively registered VIN in Tennessee that is driven on Tennessee roadways must have the minimum liability insurance coverage required by law. If you’re caught driving without car insurance, there could be serious consequences.

How much is car insurance per month in Tennessee?

The average cost of car insurance in Tennessee is $111 per month, or $1,329 per year.

Authors

Ed Zuccarelli is a freelance writer and former police officer whose law enforcement experience made him an expert in motor vehicle law and the car insurance industry.

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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